As part of Southwark and Lendlease’s £1.5bn regeneration of Elephant and Castle, Squire and Partners’ vibrant mixed-use masterplan was designed to provide 284 new homes and a new state of the art Leisure Centre for Southwark, as well as shops, restaurants, offices and improved public spaces.

Location: London SE1
Status: Completed August 2016

Team:
Client: Lendlease
Façade Consultant: Wintech
Landscape Consultant: BCA Landscape
Services: Tuv Sud Wallace Whittle
Structure: Robert Bird Group
Photography: James Balston, James Jones, Nick Delaney, Jason Hawkes

One The Elephant By Squire & Partners - Sheet2
©James Balston, James Jones, Nick Delaney, Jason Hawkes

The masterplan identified three architectural elements, a new leisure centre conceived as a series of cubes, a tall slender landmark building rising to 37-storeys, and a smaller 4-storey pavilion, which use a palette of stone, glass and metal.

One The Elephant By Squire & Partners - Sheet4
©James Balston, James Jones, Nick Delaney, Jason Hawkes

The taller building features metallic vertical detailing and far-reaching views across London. As a key marker within the development, One the Elephant complements the local environment including the Grade II listed Metropolitan Tabernacle.

One The Elephant By Squire & Partners - Sheet6
©James Balston, James Jones, Nick Delaney, Jason Hawkes

New pedestrian access routes increase permeability through the site, while landscaping – including water features, trees and seating – improves connections between St Mary’s Churchyard and the new development, and sensitively adapts the existing Martha Schwartz playground.

One The Elephant By Squire & Partners - Sheet7
©James Balston, James Jones, Nick Delaney, Jason Hawkes

Designed as an exemplar sustainable development, set to push the boundaries for tall buildings in London, the scheme will achieve Level 4 or above under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

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